New Premier League champions CIYMS and Challenge Cup winners Instonians dominate the News Letter’s 2012 NCU Team of the Year.

 CI, who won the title for the first time in their history last month, had three players named in the team, the same number as Inst, whose fine summer also included a league runners-up place.

CI were represented by captain Stephen Hughes, opening batsman Chris Dougherty and all-rounder Taimur Khan. Dougherty, who moved from Brigade last winter, made history by becoming the first player to have featured in both North West and NCU teams.

The elegant left-hander transformed CI’s season when he struck three successive centuries to inspire victories over Ballymena, Carrickfergus and, most crucially, North Down.

 Khan was particularly effective with the ball, with his 28 wickets coming at a cheap cost of just 14.19. Hughes meanwhile made the team for the first time after a brilliant personal season. The captain claimed 26 victims at a cost of just 13.96 and his captaincy was vital to CI’s historic success.

Instonians’ three selections were headed by the talented batsman James Shannon, who struck 746 runs at a stunning average of 62.17. The 23-year-old played arguably the finest innings in club cricket in 2012, his unbeaten 99 inspiring the eight-wicket Challenge Cup final win over North Down in July.

Eugene Moleon, the Inst captain, also made the team, with his 30 wickets coming at a cost of just 12.33 per wicket. Moleon’s economy rate was a miserly 2.91 per over. Zach Rushe, the left-arm spinner, was also included after his winter move from Bangor. He claimed 31 wickets in all competitions at an average of 14.19.

Despite not finishing with a trophy for the first time since the 1990s, North Down were represented by Ryan Haire and Peter Shields. The former, almost a permanent selection on the team, struck 954 runs at an average of 47.70, including six fifties and two hundreds. He also claimed 28 wickets at a cost of 28.56.

Shields was superb with the bat and with the wicketkeeping gloves. The former captain totalled 364 runs at an average of 36.40 and with the gloves had 21 catches and eight stumpings.

Civil Service North also had two picks, with captain Nigel Jones once again making the team. The Ireland all-rounder hit 715 runs at an average of 51.07 and claimed 25 wickets at 13. Wicketkeeper Corin Goodall, who had more dismissals than anyone in all competitions, was included after taking 24 catches and eight stumpings.

The team was completed by Gary Kidd, the Waringstown left-arm spinner. The former Ireland international took 28 wickets at an average of 20.54.

The team was announced at the weekend NCU dinner in Belfast.

In the NCU awards it was a double for Instonians as Shannon took the batsman’s prize and Moleon the bowling honour. The best all-rounder went to Waringstown’s Kyle McCallan.